Once they have gotten down the stairs Zei walks up to meet them, and bows. "I am Zei, from the isle of Besaid."

The other summoner's eyes narrow almost imperceptibly. "Dona," she introduces herself, "and my guardian Barthello. But enough about us—you must be the son of the High Summoner. Quite a name to live up to."

The rest of the group follows after Zei, and if Azym doesn't miss his guess they feel... tense? Why would they feel tense? Aren't summoners meant to all be great people and all that?

Dona's eyes leave Zei's and scan his little crowd before they return to his face. "My, my, my... but all these people. Are they your guardians? What a rabble. I recall your Lord father had only one guardian. Quality over quantity, my dear, whatever are you thinking?"

...huh?

Zei's right eyebrow slowly lifts almost all the way into his hair. "I'm sorry, what are we, twelve? Comparing dick sizes? I'll bet mine is bigger than yours."

Lulu coughs into her hand, covering her lips with it.

"How crass," Dona replies between pursed lips.

Okay he's very confused, here. "Lady Dona, I had been under the impression that both of you were working towards the same goal?"

"We are, and so I do feel entitled to criticise his methods—"

"Sin's attacked the village," Zei says before she can finish.

And at that she visibly sways on the spot, and her guardian is there to lend his support. "Wh-what?"

"Sin attacked the village last night, Lady Dona," Zei repeats. "So you will forgive me if I do not currently feel up to playing the part, here. Rest and then go back down the mountain to see your family." Then, without waiting for her response, he turns to Azym. "We're going in now, but Father Pell will show you to your room."

"...right."

The other summoner looks... ill. After a second of trying to regain her composure she turns around and walks off, presumably to her room.

"I'll see you when I see you," Zei tells Azym when she's gone.

"That you will," he replies, and after watching the party go up the steps and into the inner chamber he goes looking for Father Pell.

"I hadn't realised you were not a guardian. I'll show you to a guest room."

"Thank you very much."

"You must not let that get to you," he says on the way, having noticed Azym's confusion. "Summoners... have many responsibilities. Some of them like to be a bit of a spectacle, too. Give the people hope; give the people safety; give the people joy. I'm sure Lady Dona meant nothing by it."

...oh that makes sense. They become entertainment, too, sort of impromptu actors. And Azym bets there's even a little bit of selfishness to it, too, of putting on this character so that they don't have to be themselves, vulnerable, open to the world. If they're playing a character they can distance themselves a little bit from the horrors they are constantly called to witness.

"I understand. ...do guardians have any responsibilities, there, in this masquerade?"

"Are you planning to become one?"

"If Zei will have me. I do not have plans to do anything other than help defeat Sin."

"There are many other ways to help defeat Sin. Joining the Crusaders, or the priesthood, for example."

He shakes his head. "I understand what it means to be a guardian, and it is what I want. I want to be there with Zei and see him through it."